If there is going to be one that would surprise me greatly after all that rhetoric about incomplete pre-season testing (which could imply lack of clarity at this stage on most pressing development priorities).

Yes it looks like a neatly integrated DRD. I would love to see a rear shot without the cover. We already saw the duct leading to the outlet so it is nice to see the likely inlet. The fancy part, the pneumatic transistor is so far hidden unless we see some wild helmet designs and moves by the drivers

So let us hope dear Hungry Heidi does know how to swallow the air properly and switches on accordingly...

Mark: ... In terms of the DRS, it’s not a big thing for us. I think that we have been OK in qualifying in the past, also quite strong in races so the effect of the DRS, the delta of the DRS, all those type of things which is not something that we’re having a huge eye on, we’re not disappointed that the DRS is less in qualifying. For example, Sebastian and I are very happy; we pushed quite hard to have DRS dropped down in terms of volume on Saturday afternoon so we’re quite relaxed with that one.

It's quite interesting to hear what Mark/Seb had to say about the new DRS usage rule. Though it needs to be seen how things will pan out for them and clearly safety issues were the primary reason for the change, those responses are definitely not what people expected from them.

That went quick from 'Red Bull not happy with the car', 'Vettel uncomfortable with the car' to 'Gratulations to the next titles' and Newey adulations and all thanks to two Friday sessions

I have always stated that I expected that the RB9 will be competitive after looking at the basic facts. Most shared that opinion here. Now it looks good but there are still huge unknows and even a simply dry running could be yield some massive surprises as the tyres are still very much a secret and the strategies unclear.

Beautiful integration of the DRD, looks stunning. I just hope the transistor will work. The Pics are from AMuS.

No DRD which might be a very sensible idea as understanding the black art and the car without the additional layer of complexity could be a considerably better use of rare ressources, especially time. I hope for a very smooth running and lots of data getting read the right way.

Beautiful integration of the DRD, looks stunning. I just hope the transistor does it's work. The Pic is from AMuS.

That is indeed a very nice integration, I wonder why other teams, most notably Lotus, went for the big airbox intakes when it apparently can be integrated in a much more elegant and less draggy way. But surely there's less airflow and hence less effectiveness with an intake basically covered by the drivers head compared to a completely exposed one?

That is indeed a very nice integration, I wonder why other teams, most notably Lotus, went for the big airbox intakes when it apparently can be integrated in a much more elegant and less draggy way. But surely there's less airflow and hence less effectiveness with an intake basically covered by the drivers head compared to a completely exposed one?

Probably less effective but probably also more foregiving. And maybe the driver can control the system a little with his head. (Like angle you head to the side, system works fully, stop the system when holding your head straight up)

That is indeed a very nice integration, I wonder why other teams, most notably Lotus, went for the big airbox intakes when it apparently can be integrated in a much more elegant and less draggy way. But surely there's less airflow and hence less effectiveness with an intake basically covered by the drivers head compared to a completely exposed one?

I saw a diagram somewhere that basically suggested as much that Lotus' system was designed so that maximum blowing was only achieved with no yaw in the vehicle and under full throttle. It was based on the spillage from the airbox when not under full throttle and the more forward faced engine intake blocking one side of the inlets under yaw.

I saw a diagram somewhere that basically suggested as much that Lotus' system was designed so that maximum blowing was only achieved with no yaw in the vehicle and under full throttle. It was based on the spillage from the airbox when not under full throttle and the more forward faced engine intake blocking one side of the inlets under yaw.

They key point I take away from this level of integration is that RBR is rather serious about trying to get the system work. Those circuits were the drag penalty gets quite big are in general those which profit most of the DRD - and exactly there the RB9 can run without somewhat draggy ears.

We have seen no DRD pole but this does of course not mean that the RBR isn't collecting lots and lots of data, especially about the transistor switching, and there we have another advantage. They have a much easier time to collect those information as most of the DRD package is firmly integrated and should be pretty much the baseline spec. Last year we saw for example Lotus having to switch between DRD ears and no-ears, with the obvious disadvantages in gathering of precious data. That DRD data time was pretty rare indeed. Red Bull should be able to run this baseline pretty much every session long...

Reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel set the pace on the first day of the season in Melbourne. The German was the only driver to set a time under 1m 26s and his best time was set on the third lap on his supersoft tyres, having been forced to abort the first lap on the final sector due to traffic. This suggests that there was more to come.

So far we have not seen a Q3 or a race but it does look decently. Red Bull was overall just behind McLaren in Brazil, Austin and Abu Dhabi and they seem have made a big evolutionary step with intelligent, low-risk approach with a huge attention to detail fused into a neat package. McLaren on the other hand made a 'revolutionary step' and seem to suffer the lack of good testing. Scarbs made some interesting, far-sighted points, especially about the pull-rod front suspension and it's turnover implication and know-off effect on turning vanes. They have troubles to work on the setup and testing time is incredibly scarce this day. Every minute spend on turning over the car and tuning the setup on those key days is big problem especially when another great riddle in the form of the new Pirellis has to be faced*. So with McLaren shooting themselves for now into their knee things look better for RBR. Of course McLaren might be able to sort out those teething problems quickly and could once again show a great development pace.

*RBR seems to have done a neat job in this regard with the DRD as written before even if the interal ducting creats some bulk and does very slightly increase the weight high up. We will see how the race configuration looks like.

Geez guys, wake up, will you! Since when FP1 and 2 mean anything? I am surely happy that Seb is close to sharp end of the grid, as opposed to sitting at P15 or 16, but at the end I would not bet a house on that alone for a season.

Geez guys, wake up, will you! Since when FP1 and 2 mean anything? I am surely happy that Seb is close to sharp end of the grid, as opposed to sitting at P15 or 16, but at the end I would not bet a house on that alone for a season.

Remember Melbourne last year? Vettel was nowhere all weekend and still finished second on sunday. Now he blew everyone away in FP1 and FP2.

Jon Noble spoke to a rival engineer and was basically told its game over for everyone. Vettel will walk 2013.

Brazil comes early this year? Nahh, you can dismiss that easily. We heard similar sentiments many times before, and it is very seldom how it turns at the end. I am one of Seb's fans, but not even I would believe that.

Looks good but hopefully RB can make it count as in 2011, Vettel took pole by 7 tenths and then next race was only 1 tenth up. The others will catch up so its important to get the points on the board at the start, it also means less risk taking later on if you bank big points now.

I gotta say. This place is a lot cheerier than the McLaren thread atm.

I watched a Swedish preview of the 2013 season and different people in the teams were asked who they thought was the fastest driver. And they all said either Hamilton or Alonso. Not a single one mentioned Vettel (except Horner) even though he has all the records and 3 titles. Seems the mantra that "the car is doing the winning, not Vettel" is still in effect.

But one just has to look at his teammate for the past years to realize that Vettel really is those extra tenths to that car. I for one think its amazing.
However, I still think we need a couple of races to truly establish a pecking order.

But one just has to look at his teammate for the past years to realize that Vettel really is those extra tenths to that car. I for one think its amazing.

So all you are really saying is that Vettel is quicker than his team mate?? thats not really hard, But if he had Lewis as a team mate the last 3 years at red bull, I would bet Lewis would be 4 times WDC and Vettel 0. so it is the car not the driver, a good driver just helps.

So all you are really saying is that Vettel is quicker than his team mate?? thats not really hard, But if he had Lewis as a team mate the last 3 years at red bull, I would bet Lewis would be 4 times WDC and Vettel 0. so it is the car not the driver, a good driver just helps.

Yes, of course. Dont know about the Lewis winning it all though. But I was just making a point about the thesis of the car doing the winning. Which I always thought was nonsense.

So all you are really saying is that Vettel is quicker than his team mate?? thats not really hard, But if he had Lewis as a team mate the last 3 years at red bull, I would bet Lewis would be 4 times WDC and Vettel 0. so it is the car not the driver, a good driver just helps.

So Lewis is indeed godlike, getting 4 out of 3. And he is also completely off-topic, drivel or not. It is the RB9 car thread...

Yes, of course. Dont know about the Lewis winning it all though. But I was just making a point about the thesis of the car doing the winning. Which I always thought was nonsense.

It is foremost the car, if a horse is very good you could put a women on top of it and it would still win.

Hamilton is a lot quicker than Vettel so he would have out raced him if they was team mates, put them in the same car on the same track and Lewis (was) is a second quicker, so I expect Vettel would have been the bridesmaid.